What is EMDR Psychological Therapy

What happens following traumatised or adversity?

When faced by an overwhelming event (e.g., a car accident) or repeatedly subjected to age-inappropriate adversity, the natural coping mechanism can become overloaded.  Disturbing experiences can remain ‘frozen’ in the brain in an emotional form.  These memories remain in an isolated network associated with emotions & physical sensations, disconnected from where the brain uses language to store memories.

The brain can then be ‘triggering’ by a smell, sound, place, conversation, etc.  People are often not aware of their triggers, & the distress experienced is seemingly ‘out of nowhere’.  It is also common for people to be unable to recall the traumatic events that led to their current experiences.  Even if the memory of the event is ‘forgotten’, anxiety, despair, irritability, hopelessness, panic, zoning out (dissociation) etc. continues to be triggered in the present. 

Traumatic experiences can significantly influence behaviour, thoughts, pain, physical & mental health, the ability to form trusting relationships, intimacy, self-care, mood & almost all aspects of life.  Many people that experienced (or witnessed) traumatic events, particularly in childhood, are not aware of how profoundly the event(s) impact their life.

Is this the same as other therapies I have tried?

Therapy must be based on the individual needs & experiences of the person, a ‘one size fits all’ approach does not work.  Many therapies focus on areas of the brain associated with thinking, speaking & current emotional awareness.  They often focus on increasing the person’s awareness of negative or inaccurate thinking, so the person can ‘challenge’ these thoughts.  Trauma, adversity, sustained stress, hopelessness, anxiety, or depression can ‘de-activate’ the topmost parts of the brain, impacting the efficacy of such therapies.  EMDR, integrating feelings, body sensation & the whole brain, whilst maintaining an awareness of the present (current time). This is known as dual awareness. 

Many people prefer EMDR, not only due to its rapid efficacy, but also because the person is not required to disclose all details of what they experienced (which people often find ‘triggering’, distressing & embarrassing).  With EMDR, only the ‘news headline’ of the event is required (e.g. ‘car crash’), along with how you feel when you the event, level of distress you experience now, & where in your body you feel it (e.g. tight throat, racing heart, tense, etc).

What is EMDR and what does a session look like?

EMDR replicates the brain’s own process of ‘Rapid Eye Movement’ (REM) that naturally occurs during a phase of sleep.  However, with EMDR, the person is awake (and not hypnotised).  During & following phase one (see illustration below), you will be asked specific questions about a particular disturbing memory. You are then asked to follow, with your eyes, movement backwards & forwards across your visual field. Sometimes, alternatives to eye movement will be used, depending upon the needs of the person. The eye movements will last for a short while & then stop. You will then be asked to report back on the experiences you have had during each of these sets of eye movements. Experiences during a session may include changes in thoughts, images, physical sensations, insight, perception & feelings.   With repeated sets of eye movements, the memory changes in such a way that it loses its painful intensity & simply becomes a neutral memory of an event in the past.  Other associated memories may also heal at the same time.

Can anyone benefit from EMDR?

EMDR can accelerate therapy by resolving the impact of your past traumas & allowing you to live more fully in the present. It is not, however, appropriate for everyone. The process is rapid, & any disturbing experiences, if they occur at all, last for a comparatively short period of time. Nevertheless, you need to be aware of, & willing to experience, the strong feelings & disturbing thoughts, which sometimes occur during sessions. Suitability for EMDR will be assessed during your initial appointments. If it is not suitable for you, then an alternative, evidence-based therapy approach will be utilised, with your agreement.

How long does treatment take?

Unlike most therapies where appointments are usually 45 – 50 minutes long, EMDR sessions are generally 90 minutes.  The extended appointment time allows for rapid therapeutic progress, alleviating the pain, distress, & symptoms of the past. The number of sessions varies between individuals but is typically from 8 to 20 sessions. Sessions are weekly, & consistent attendance & engagement is essential to reach optimal outcomes.   Sessions can be increased to two to three per week if the person wants accelerated outcomes & feel able to manage the increased frequency.

Will I have to activities and ‘homework’ between appointments?

Unlike many other therapies, EMDR aims to address the underlying factors that result in experiencing anxiety, or avoidance behaviours (e.g. avoiding particular people, places, conversations, emotions, physical sensations, or situation).  By addressing these factors, the person will feel more comfortable in engaging in such activities, without distress or anxiety.  In contrast, other therapies often require the person to ‘push’ themselves to do activities outside of the appointment, that make them feel anxious or uncomfortable (e.g. if you feel anxious in busy shopping centres, you will be encouraged to gradually build up your exposure by going to increasingly busy shops & eventually a shopping centre).  Whilst this can be effective, it can be very anxiety provoking for the individual, & the ‘drop out’ rate for such therapies is higher than EMDR.  Generally, there are no ‘homework’ activities out of appointments.

Will I remain in control?

During EMDR treatment, you will remain in control, fully alert & wide-awake. It is not a form of hypnosis. Throughout the session, the therapist will support & facilitate your own self-healing. Reprocessing is usually experienced as something that happens spontaneously, & new connections & insights are felt to arise quite naturally from within. As a result, most people experience EMDR as being a natural & very empowering therapy.

What evidence is there that EMDR is a successful treatment?

EMDR is a treatment which has successfully helped over a million individuals. It is an evidence based, highly researched therapy, used internationally in trauma centres across the world, for military, first responders (e.g. Police, Ambulance, Fire & Rescue), in addition to members of the public that experienced childhood or adult abuse, adversity or trauma.

The validity & reliability of EMDR has been established by rigorous research. EMDR it the most thoroughly researched psychological treatment used for trauma & is recommended by the National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence (NICE) as an effective treatment for PTSD.  (Further details are available at www.emdr-europe.org & www.emdr.org)

What is next step?

Vista Advanced Psychological Therapy’s highly experienced mental health nurse has extensive experience in effective psychological treatment for trauma.  An individualised approach is taken to suit your personal situation & needs, to optimise efficacy & treatment outcomes. 

Click here to view a video overview of EMDR, developed by EMDR International

Visit our 'Book Appointment' to schedule your appointment with a therapist that specialises in trauma focused therapy.